The development and clinical applications of proteomics: an Indian perspective

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Proteomic research has been extensively used to identify potential biomarkers or targets for various diseases. Advances in mass spectrometry along with data analytics have led proteomics to become a powerful tool for exploring the critical molecular players associated with diseases, thereby, playing a significant role in the development of proteomic applications for the clinic.

Areas covered

This review presents recent advances in the development and clinical applications of proteomics in India toward understanding various diseases including cancer, metabolic diseases, and reproductive diseases. Keywords combined with ‘clinical proteomics in India’ ‘proteomic research in India’ and ‘mass spectrometry’ were used to search PubMed.

Expert opinion

The past decade has seen a significant increase in research in clinical proteomics in India. This approach has resulted in the development of proteomics-based marker technologies for disease management in the country. The majority of these investigations are still in the discovery phase and efforts have to be made to address the intended clinical use so that the identified potential biomarkers reach the clinic. To move toward this necessity, there is a pressing need to establish some key infrastructure requirements and meaningful collaborations between the clinicians and scientists which will enable more effective solutions to address health issues specific to India.

KEYWORDS:

• Clinical proteomics
• mass spectrometry
• proteome
• Indian proteomics
• disease

Article highlights

• This review presents the development and current status of clinical proteomics research in India.

• Proteomic investigations are addressing infectious and non-communicable diseases which are of prime importance to India.

• Few Indian clinical proteomics scientists have identified some important leads which have the potential to be translated to the clinics.

• The caliber of Indian clinical proteomics researchers is well acknowledged globally.

• There is a major need for improving Electronic Health Records systems and increasing Biobanks in hospitals to promote clinical proteomics research.

• Extensive collaborations are still needed between Proteomic scientists and clinicians to address clinical questions of relevance which will enhance the pace of translating laboratory findings to the clinics.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was supported by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Govt. of India [Grant no. BT/PR10855/BRB/10/1330/2014] and NCCS intramural funding. K. Taunk and V. Chanukuppa, acknowledge Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi, India. B. Kalita acknowledges the financial support from the DBT-RA Program in Biotechnology and Life Sciences.